LEA and Facility Operator Training

2011 Training Needs Survey Results

The 2011 survey captured useful information from local enforcement agencies (LEAs), tire enforcement grantees (TEAs), solid waste facility operators and CalRecycle staff. This information will be utilized to determine training priorities, topics, focus on regional issues, and class formats.

60 responses were received.

These results are separated into 3 sections:

• Top Three Training Categories. Shows where training is needed as indicated by survey respondents.
• Top Results for each Training Category. Identifies the top three topics selected from each of the 11 categories surveyed and ranks them in order of importance with number 1 as the top priority.
• Training Format, Attendance and Travel. Identifies preferred training formats; criteria used when deciding to attend a particular training, and suggested travel criteria to consider when planning a training class.

Top Three Training Categories

1. Permitting
2. Inspections
3. Enforcement

Top Results for each Training Category

 

Permitting

1. Reviewing Report of Facility Information (e.g., Joint Technical Documents, Reports of Disposal Site Information, transfer/processing reports) for 1) initial review and 2) amendment and processing review
2. Reviewing application packages for completeness/correctness
3. Permit consistency with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

Inspections

1. Composting operations/facilities inspections
2. What to look for when inspecting records
3. Solid waste facility inspections with a focus on gaining compliance-educating/interacting with the operator and employees

Enforcement

1. Enforcement actions and follow-up
2. Enforcement and enforcement program plan (EPP)
3. Writing notice and orders

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

1. Understanding the relationship between the environmental document and the solid waste facility permit
2. The roles and responsibilities of the LEA and CalRecycle in the CEQA process
3. Overview of the CEQA process

Tires

1. Inspections
2. Handling and storage
3. Permits

Landfill Closure and Postclosure Maintenance

1. Closure and postclosure maintenance plan review process
2. The roles of CalRecycle, Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and the LEA for completeness determination and approval
3. Verification of cost estimates; coordination of financial assurances

Closed Illegal and Abandoned (CIA) Sites

1. Health risk assessment for legacy municipal solid waste (MSW) sites proposed for development
2. Determining the horizontal and vertical extents of cover and waste at legacy MSW sites
3. Reducing inspection frequency for legacy MSW sites proposed for development

Health and Safety

1. Eight-hour annual health and safety field training
2. Employee health and safety at solid waste facilities: Cal/OSHA requirements
3. Radiation safety field seminar

Solid Waste Facility Management

1. Leachate management/leachate generation, collection and treatment at MSW landfills
2. Managing transfer station systems
3. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) debris management

Communication

1. Effective communication skills during the exit interview process after an inspection
2. Dispute resolution process
3. Interview techniques

Miscellaneous

1. Maintaining enforcement program plans, including annual inventory and enumeration
2. Illegal dumping
3. Leadership skills for solid waste professionals

Training Format, Attendance and Travel

Preferred training formats

1. Classroom lecture
2. LEA Roundtables
3. One-on-one or small group

Criteria used for deciding to attend a specific training

1. Job relevance
2. Acquiring REHS and or SWANA/MOLO CEUs
3. Commutable distance

Suggested travel considerations when planning training:

1. Use training venues where travel distance is between 120-150 miles round trip
2. Schedule training between 9:00 a.m.-3:30 or 4:00 p.m. to allow driving time
3. Limit training classes to one day

2011 Survey | Survey Home